thelerner

Thank you for that. Up until now I always thought Shrinkage Theory only applied to my balls in a cold pool.

I don't know much about it, but there is an old time school of Eastern thought that feeding 'hungry ghosts' gives you mucho merit. In the same vein certain purchasing Fu's and giving proper donations to Taoist Temples also buys you merit. Mind you, that ain't my religion or inclination, but we've had some members here who were strongly for it, namely, Plato and Mak Ti Sin. Personally I don't think the universe keeps score. Yet we're part of the world and have choices. Selfishness is ultimately self destructive. Helping others, making the world a better place is its own reward, no book keeper needed.

Okay, now I have. I thought 'The Fourth State' podcast was very profound. Guided Meditation on the Breath was good and practical.

They're doing some fairly large field tests with Ipads at our local schools. Students don't get them, but they're wheeled out on carts for a few classes and kids use some individual apps. Apparently the money is coming out of there computer budget. A cheaper way to go would be Kindles. Used ones go for about $129, I could see kids getting them to take home. My kids all have 15#+ back packs, it'd be nice if they could load there text books on them. Especially if it was cheaper then buying a physical book. Unlike in my day, schools are charging for textbooks now. Still tech is no substitute for a good teacher. Great teacher with chalk will beat a computer any day. But there may be hybrids like Khan academy. Where you get a great teacher in electric form. There was a cool TED video on how children learned best 3 to a computer. An alchemy took place where less was more, the kids were forced to collaborate and did significantly better then 1 to 1. If you're unfamiliar with Khan Academy and TED, google them, both are examples in how the internet can be a positive force in dynamic educating.

Just found them. After reading this thread. What's nice is many are short, 10 to 15 minutes, others over an hour. Locked and loaded 5 onto my ipod, so I'm ready.

Tulku, out of curiosity, would you consider joining a monastery? If so, which one would you join? Any particular sect or even better, is there a particular monastery that you might have your eye on.

He hasn't updated it in a while, but Mark has his own podcast called 'Guru Radio' with 23 episodes. If you have Itunes (free), they're available for free download.

A good way to get into spontaneous dancing is Gabriel Roth's material, Sweat Your Prayers, Endless Wave CD & DVD's.

Good good to soak up some extreme yin. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2137774/Supermoon-Biggest-moon-weekend-tides-rise-planet.html "The moon is set to get a lot bigger this weekend - at least from our perspective on Earth. And the 'Supermoon' - the nickname for a perigee full moon, closer to the Earth than usual - could cause tides to rise around the world as the moon's close 'fly past' exerts 42% more tidal force. The moon will appear bigger and brighter - sky-watchers promise this 'supermoon' will be 16% brighter than most when it begins on Saturday at 3.35pm GMT, 11.35am EDT. Another 'super moon' is due on Saturday. The perigee full Moon in May will be as much as 14% bigger and 30% brighter than other full moons of 2012 Another 'super moon' is due on Saturday. The perigee full Moon in May will be as much as 14% bigger and 30% brighter than other full moons of 2012 Full Moons vary in size because of the oval shape of the Moon's orbit. It is an ellipse with one side (perigee) about 50,000 km closer to Earth than the other (apogee). Nearby perigee moons are about 14% bigger and 30% brighter than lesser moons that occur on the apogee side of the Moon's orbit. A perigee full Moon brings with it extra-high ‘perigean tides,’ but this is nothing to worry about, according to America's NOAA space-weather predicting agency. In most places, lunar gravity at perigee pulls tide waters only a few centimeters (an inch or so) higher than usual. 'To view this weekend's supermoon to best effect, look for it just after it rises or before it sets, when it is close to the horizon. There, you can catch a view of the moon behind buildings or trees, an effect which produces an optical illusion, making the moon seem even larger than it really is,' said Space.com, which reported the phenomenon. The elliptical orbit of the moon means some full moons are bigger than others The elliptical orbit of the moon means some full moons are bigger than others And the 'Supermoon' - the term for a perigee full moon, closer to the Earth than usual - could cause tides to rise around the world as the moon's close 'fly past' exerts 42% more tidal force than usual And the 'Supermoon' - the term for a perigee full moon, closer to the Earth than usual - could cause tides to rise around the world as the moon's close 'fly past' exerts 42% more tidal force than usual Local geography can amplify the effect to about 15 centimeters (six inches)--not exactly a great flood. The Moon looks extra-big when it is beaming through foreground objects--a.k.a. ‘the Moon illusion.’ Indeed, contrary to some reports circulating the Internet, perigee Moons do not trigger natural disasters. The ‘super moon’ of March 1983, for instance, passed without incident. And an almost-super Moon in Dec. 2008 also proved harmless." Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2137774/Supermoon-Biggest-moon-weekend-tides-rise-planet.html#ixzz1tobEjj4g

Twinner you have a point about pit bulls. I mentioned in another 'dog' thread I could see requiring special license and training to own one. I think Vmarco lumps many breeds into his 'vicious dog' category and makes blanket condemnations on them all. That's where it gets tricky. Dogs like German Shepards were bred to guard. They are stong, smart and loyal. They can be trained to help the blind or to be vicious. They are malleable and become excellent pets. I hate to see complex issues turned into black and white generalities. I know of compassionate people who own dogs, big ones and small ones. They're responsible. Ultimately its a human problem more then a dog one. It needs to be tackled with wisdom, understanding and compassion.

Never mind, picture not loading. see http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap120505.html 2012 May 5 Full Moonrise Image Credit & Copyright: Robert Arn Explanation: Rising as the Sun sets, tonight's Full Moon could be hard to miss. Remarkably, its exact full phase (May 6 03:36 UT) will occur less than two minutes after it reaches perigee, the closest point to Earth in the Moon's orbit, making it the largest Full Moon of 2012. The Full Perigee Moon will appear to be some 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than a Full Moon near apogee, the most distant point in the elliptical lunar orbit. In comparison, though, it will appear less than 1 percent larger and almost as bright as April's Full Moon, captured in this telephoto image rising over suburban Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. For that lunation, Full Moon and perigee were about 21 hours apart. Of course, if you manage to miss May's Full Perigee Moon, make a note on your calendar. Your next chance to see a Full Moon close to perigee, will be next year on June 23.

Uhmnn, in that rant, are We the pigs? If so and it comes down to a vote on whether to give you the 'power to change the world' I'm gonna vote no. That's right, until you show a little more respect and maturity you won't get my vote for godling. The bad new is the odds that I get the deciding vote are as likely as your ascension. There's power in accepting our lot and building on it. Probably better to focus on Now then on power. There's a certainly childishness to dreaming of super powers. Childishness is fine; kids know to have fun. Some dreams are fantasies and others can be blue prints to build a future on.

For me the best choice is a middle road. Lust won't destroy me. It's natural, I can choose to follow it or not. To some extent when 'it' is strong, I am strong. Appreciating woman's beauty and being horny can be distracting, but its also one of the pleasures of Spring.

I've always thought Heaven and Hell fears and scares has been religion's 'big bat' for control.

So..what, beyond electronic preaching, do you do to help the environment? Are you living in an 'industrial' house? Lit and comforted by electricity? Eating food brought to you by trucks? Do you have a garden? Are you growing anything you eat? Do your actions matter? To me yes, because I don't like those who preach vegetarianism while eating a bucket of KFC. It betrays the cause just as hypocritical preachers do. In some ways You are more important then The World, because You can only command, rule and change Yourself. As a microcosm, a tiny cell within this world, beyond electronic messaging, what are you doing? That's what counts. You will absolutely fail to change the world back to 10,000 B.C., but you can succeed with yourself. But that path will be incredibly hard. Screaming at the tide does no good. But you can roll up your sleeves and build in a place the water has not reached. Its hard work, day after day, and much less dramatic then playing doomsday prophet, but you could make a difference beyond words not even written on paper.

I agree. There are living saints like Amma who exemplify this. There are probably high level masters living and dying in seclusion touching no one, helping no one, teaching no one. But a being like Amma leaves the world a better place.

Not sure why you bring up the Tea party on so many threads, but don't care either, its just odd. Ultimately peace must come from within. Less fear, more lovetrust. Don't allow yourself to be terrorized by Shepards. Be smart, even wary, but living with so much fear is counter productive (again around 500,000 German shepards in US). Detesting people is also bad and takes a toll on one's soul. If you live in the U.S and you think everyone around you is.. murderous, pro-slavery, vacillant, petty, racist, then you're going to be real unhappy and nothing will give you peace (& the reality is we may be petty, but not murderous, pro-slavery..whoops getting off subject) Back on track, if you're compassionate before you own a German Shepard then you don't lose it when you buy one. Ownership doesn't make you a better or worse person. It's how you treat others (& the dog) that expresses your heart. People is people, most of them are pretty good if you give them half a chance. Dogs is dogs, lotta love and loyalty possible in all breeds. People murder, dogs bite, still..peace is our birth rite. Don't make it conditional on a perfect world. Find it dogs, people and all.

Looks like I'll be pitying myself. Cloudy all day here in Chi-town and doesn't look like there'll be a change tonight. But, there's always tomorrow. I look forward to Lunar reports from those with a clear view. Tomorrow (Sunday) the moonrise is 9:06, which means we'll lose the color from the sunset, but it should be just as bright. For any Chicagoans out there tonight is the Full Moon Meditation at IMU, 9-12, meditate & dance. & Sunday is the Full Moon Jam w/ Fire Spinners by Foster Beach

If its anything like last year's it will be an astounding sight as it first comes up. In the Midwest/Chicago the moon rises @ 7:46. The sun sets at 7:54. We might see a giant crimson moon bleeding into amber and gold before it changes into bright white. This could be the greatest moonrise of our lives, or least the year. I pity the person who misses it.

If we take the Buddha as our guide. He found the ascetic way was not the ultimate way. Tulku, what is the missing ingredient that ascetics need, that the Buddha found them wanting?

Correct, I don't think the the Han..whatever, should be attributed to Lao Tzu, we've been over this a couple times in other threads. You believe it I don't, thus in your stereotypical mindset, I make deluded assumptions(though I'm in good company with that belief). The Mayans as super advanced? No, I admire there accomplishments in building and astronomy, but strongly doubt they had 'Quantum physics scientists that rival our own.' You may believe it, but in my opinion you found a New Age 'kook' scientist, put all your beans on him. Stating they can only be understood with the heart (centered?) not the brain. Not the best way to understand history. Though I suppose the Mayans were heart centric in the fact many pictographs showed priests pulling people's hearts out. Admittedly they were Gandhi's compared to the Aztecs, but two of there main gods required blood sacrifice, which even if its willing kids and conquered tribes is a bit nasty. Ultimately it doesn't matter, other then the hope you don't do anything crazy on May 20th, because you think the Mayans predicted some zero point EFT phenomena that will shake the world or cause a tiny vibration. Sorry I'm getting off point. You can PM your views on the Mayans to me if you wish, I'll probably continue thinking you got them from 'Kook' science though. On the third hand this thread is on Meditating in extreme places. If you have to mention mayans on it, (I shouldn't have used the mayan pit example, but its what triggered the topic) then also mention a time you meditated in a place with an emotional history.

So what do you think will happen on the 20th? I'm not sure understand the EFT's and 'zero' tech. Speaking of tech, I'm not sure I'd look to the Mayans as an enlightened culture. They engaged in human sacrifice, kept slaves etc. Even techwise they built some spectacular cities, but had little in the way of metal tools.

Let people know you care about them and will be there if they need you (if that is indeed the truth), then if you have to cut, cut sharp. Say what you need to and be prepared to listen intently, giving them space if needed. Presence and good listening soften harsh messages.

I've also found Tinnitus seems to happen at certain times, lasts a while, then goes away by itself. I've often wondered if diet or inflammation could be a trigger.

I found this book 'Old Souls: Compelling Evidence from Children Who Remember Past Lives' fascinating. On the phenomena of young children who remember past lives. Some even had physical marks that seemed to be leftovers from the previous life. I liked it's Western slightly skeptical investigation.